Man gets 5 years for house fire that killed 2 dogs

BARTOW — An Auburndale man has been sentenced to five years in prison for setting fire to a mattress in his own home, causing an estimated $8,000 in damage and the death of two dogs.

Tabarus Johnson, 38, has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of attempted arson of a structure in a plea agreement with prosecutors. He had been charged with first-degree arson, and could have been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison if convicted. Attempted arson is punishable by a prison term up to five years.

He also pleaded no contest to three counts of felony cruelty to a dog, which carries a prison term up to five years.

Johnson was arrested in March 2016 after he was seen in front of his house at 610 Pine St. in Auburndale arguing with Fannie Lafumin, who also lived at the house. She told Auburndale police officers that he’d told her he was going to set fire to the house, according to the arrest report. Another witness, Bobbie Simon, said she was on the phone with Lafumin at the time and overheard Johnson’s threat.

A neighbor, Toni Lycans, told police she witnessed Johnson and Lafumin arguing, and saw Lafumin drive away, reports state. She said that soon after Johnson went back into the house, she saw smoke billowing from the front windows. Within minutes, she observed Johnson running from the house.

Fire officials traced the fire’s origin to a mattress in a bedroom, where the fire damage was heaviest. The rest of the house was damaged by heat, smoke and water, according to the police report.

Five dogs were in the house at the time the fire was set, the reports state. Two of them were tied up with leashes, and they were found dead once the fire was extinguished. Firefighters led the other dogs from the house, and each of them required oxygen to breathe properly.

Prosecutors initially charged Johnson with five counts of felony cruelty to a dog, but dropped three of the charges in exchange for his plea.

By pleading no contest, Johnson neither admitted to the crime nor challenged the allegations against him. Legally, the plea carries the same weight as a guilty plea.